Humidifier with Automatic Humidification Control

ABSTRACT

A humidifier with automatic humidification control using a humidity sensor to detect surrounding humidity and a central processing unit to control on/off of an electric fan and a nebulizer (for example, ultrasonic oscillator) of a humidification unit, enabling the electric fan and the nebulizer to automatically perform a humidification action when the humidity detected by the humidity sensor is below a predetermined low level or to stop the humidification operation when the humidity detected by the humidity sensor surpasses a predetermined high level. As the electric fan and the nebulizer do not keep working continuously, the invention can save energy consumption and reduce component wear and prolong the lifespan of the humidifier.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to humidifier technology, and moreparticularly to a humidifier with automatic humidification control,which automatically starts the humidification operation when thehumidity of the indoor space is below a predetermined low level andautomatically stops the humidification operation when the humidity ofthe indoor space surpasses a predetermined high level, thereby savingenergy consumption and reducing component wear.

2. Description of the Related Art

When people are in a dry air environment, water easily evaporates,making skin more susceptible to dryness, cracking and discomfort.Further, in order to prevent allergies or colds, a humidifier may beused to increase air humidity. Many humidifiers with automatichumidification function are commercially available. However, thesecommercial humidifiers will automatically and continuously humidifyingthe indoor space. This continuous humidification operation may be notbeneficial to people's skin and may just backfire. Further, continuousoperation consumes much energy, and can cause component wear and shortenthe humidifier lifespan.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been accomplished under the circumstances inview. It is therefore the main object of the present invention toprovide a humidifier with automatic humidification control, whichautomatically controls the humidification operation, maintaining a highlevel of humidity quality for the humidified space that is beneficial topeople's skin.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a humidifierwith automatic humidification control, which automatically controls thehumidification operation to prevent continuous operation of the electricfan and the nebulizer, thereby saving energy consumption and reducingcomponent wear and prolonging the humidifier lifespan.

To achieve these and other objects of the present invention, ahumidifier with automatic humidification control comprises a housing,which comprises at least one air input port and at least one spray port,a humidification unit, which comprises a water tank mounted in thehousing and a nebulizer mounted in the water tank for turning water inthe water tank into an ultra fine water mist, at least one electric fanmounted in the holder base of the housing between the at least one airinput port and the at least one spray port for sucking indoor airthrough the at least one air input port and the humidification unit tolet the generated ultra fine water mist be sprayed out of the at leastone spray port into the external air, and a control circuit board, whichcomprises a central processing unit electrically coupled with thenebulizer of the humidification unit and the at least one electric fanand a humidity sensor electrically connected to the central processingunit for detecting surrounding humidity and providing detected humiditydata to the central processing unit. The central processing unit isadapted to turn on the nebulizer of the humidification unit and the atleast one electric fan when the humidity value detected by the humiditysensor is below a predetermined low level, or to turn off the nebulizerof the humidification unit and the at least one electric fan when thehumidity value detected by the humidity sensor surpasses a predeterminedhigh level.

Preferably, the nebulizer of the humidification unit is an ultrasonicoscillator.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 illustrates the outer appearance of a humidifier with automatichumidification control in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the humidifier with automatic humidificationcontrol in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the humidifier with automatic humidificationcontrol in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the housing of the humidifier withautomatic humidification control in accordance with the presentinvention.

FIG. 5 is an exploded view of the holder base and bottom cover of thehousing of the humidifier with automatic humidification control inaccordance with the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an oblique bottom elevational view of a part of the humidifierwith automatic humidification control in accordance with the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIGS. 1-6, a humidifier with automatic humidificationcontrol in accordance with the present invention is shown. Thehumidifier comprises:

a housing 1, comprising a holder base 12 (see FIG. 4), a body shell 11capped on the holder base 12, a bottom cover 13 (see FIG. 3) covering abottom side of the holder base 12, at least one air input port 131located on the bottom cover 13 (see FIG. 3 and FIG. 5), and at least onespray port 111 located on a top side of the body shell 11;

a humidification unit A (see FIG. 4) mounted in the housing 1,comprising a water tank 122 (see FIG. 2) mounted in the holder base 12of the housing 1, and a nebulizer 123 (for example, ultrasonicoscillator) (see FIG. 6) mounted in the water tank 122 and electricallyconnected to a control circuit board 3 for turning water in the watertank 122 into an ultra fine water mist;

at least one electric fan 2 (see FIG. 6) mounted in the holder base 12of the housing 1 between the at least one air input port 131 (see FIG. 1and FIG. 4) and the at least one spray port 111 (see FIG. 3 and FIG. 5)for sucking indoor air through the at least one air input port 131 andthe humidification unit A to let the generated ultra fine water mist besprayed out of the at least one spray port 111 into the external air toincrease the humidity in the indoor space, thereby achieving the desiredhumidification effect; and

a control circuit board 3 (see FIG. 6) comprising a central processingunit 31 electrically coupled with the nebulizer 123 of thehumidification unit A and the electric fan 2 and a humidity sensor 4(see FIG. 5) electrically connected to the central processing unit 31for detecting surrounding humidity and providing detected humidity datato the central processing unit 31 so that the central processing unit 31can turn on the nebulizer 123 of the humidification unit A and theelectric fan 2 to perform a humidification action when the detectedhumidity value is below a predetermined low level (for example, 40%) orturn off the nebulizer 123 of the humidification unit A and the electricfan 2 when the detected humidity value surpasses a predetermined highlevel (for example, 50%).

Further, at least one ventilation hole 124 (see FIG. 4) is located onthe holder base 12 of the housing 1 above the electric fan 2 forventilation.

In conclusion, the invention provides a humidifier with automatichumidification control that has the advantages and features as follows:

-   -   1. The humidifier does not continuously humidify the indoor        space, maintaining a high level of humidity quality for the        humidified space that is beneficial to people's skin.    -   2. The humidifier automatically controls the humidification        operation to prevent continuous operation of the electric fan        and the nebulizer, thereby saving energy consumption and        reducing component wear and prolonging the humidifier lifespan.

What is claimed is:
 1. A humidifier, comprising: a housing comprising atleast one air input port and at least one spray port; a humidificationunit comprising a water tank mounted in said housing and a nebulizermounted in said water tank for turning water in said water tank into anultra fine water mist; at least one electric fan mounted in said holderbase of said housing between said at least one air input port and saidat least one spray port for sucking indoor air through said at least oneair input port and said humidification unit to let the generated ultrafine water mist be sprayed out of said at least one spray port into theexternal air; and a control circuit board comprising a centralprocessing unit electrically coupled with said nebulizer of saidhumidification unit and said at least one electric fan and a humiditysensor electrically connected to said central processing unit fordetecting surrounding humidity and providing detected humidity data tosaid central processing unit, said central processing unit being adaptedto turn on said nebulizer of said humidification unit and said at leastone electric fan when the humidity value detected by said humiditysensor is below a predetermined low level, or to turn off said nebulizerof said humidification unit and said at least one electric fan when thehumidity value detected by said humidity sensor surpasses apredetermined high level.
 2. The humidifier as claimed in claim 1,wherein said nebulizer of said humidification unit is an ultrasonicoscillator.